Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Incidental learning during information retrieval : A hypertext experiment

  • Conference paper
  • First Online:
Computer Assisted Learning (ICCAL 1989)

Part of the book series: Lecture Notes in Computer Science ((LNCS,volume 360))

Included in the following conference series:

Abstract

A study was conducted in a hypertext environment in order to examine the effects of the type of fact-retrieval search (browsing vs. index-using) on incidental learning. It was hypothesized that browsing would lead to more incidental learning; from a cognitive viewpoint, it would appear that browsers would have more opportunity to make connections between the various articles, which would result in a more complete understanding of the material. No significant results were found at the level of overall performance; however, by examining individual questions and the log files of various subjects, insight was gained into the search process. These trends were discussed in terms of implications on the use of hypertext for education. Many suggestions for designers of hypertext databases were given, along with suggestions for further research.

This material is based upon work supported under a National Science Foundation Graduate Fellowship.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution

Institutional subscriptions

Preview

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

References

  1. Barker, D., and Hapkiewicz, W.G. 1979. The effects of behavioral objectives on relevant and incidental learning at two levels of Bloom's taxonomy. Journal of Educational Research, 72(6):334–339.

    Google Scholar 

  2. Dixon, P.N. and Cameron, A.E. 1976. Personality and motivational factors on an intentional-incidental learning task. Psychological Reports, 39:1315–1320.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  3. Feibel, W. 1984. Natural phrasing in the delivery of text on computer screens: discussion of results and research approaches. Proceedings of the NECC. Della T. Bonnette (Ed.), 160–167.

    Google Scholar 

  4. Gagne, R.M. 1986. Instructional technology: the research field. Journal of Instructional Development, 8(3):7–14.

    Google Scholar 

  5. Hayes, B.C. and Williges, R.C. 1986. Defining search strategies in information retrieval. Proceedings of the 1986 IEEE International Conference on Systems, Man, and Cybernetics, 1108–1112.

    Google Scholar 

  6. Herman, P.A., Anderson, R.C., Pearson, P.D. and Nagy, W.E. 1987. Incidental acquisition of word meaning from expositions with varied text features. Reading Research Quarterly, 22(3):263–284.

    Google Scholar 

  7. Kreitzberg, C. and Shneiderman, B. 1988. Restructuring knowledge for an electronic encyclopedia, Proceedings of the Tenth International Ergonomic Association.

    Google Scholar 

  8. Krinsky, R. and Nelson, T.O. 1981. Task difficulty and pupillary dilation during incidental learning. Journal of Experimental Psychology: Human Learning and Memory, 7(4):293–298.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  9. Lindberg, M. A. and Wickens, D.D. 1979. Are incidental learning tasks measuring elaboration of coding, or just overloading retrieval cues? Bulletin of the Psychonomic Society, 13(1):47–49.

    Google Scholar 

  10. Marchionini, Gary. 1988a. An invitation to browse: designing full-text systems for novice users. Canadian Journal of Information Science, in press.

    Google Scholar 

  11. Marchionini, Gary. 1988b. Making the transition from print to electronic encyclopedias: assimilation and accommodation of mental models, International Journal of Man-Machine Studies, in press

    Google Scholar 

  12. Marchionini, Gary and Shneiderman, Ben. 1988. Finding facts vs. browsing knowledge in hypertext systems. IEEE Computer, 21(1):70–80.

    Google Scholar 

  13. Wang, Xianhua, Liebscher, Peter and Marchionini, Gary. 1987. Physical format and search strategy in hypertext: effects on information seeking, University of Maryland Human Computer Interaction Lab Technical Report (CAR-TR-353, CS-TR-2006).

    Google Scholar 

  14. Yankelovich, Nicole, Meyrowitz, Norman, and van Dam, Andries. 1985. Reading and writing the electronic book. IEEE Computer, October 1985: 15–30.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Computer Science, University of Maryland, 20742, College Park, MD, USA

    Tricia Jones

Authors
  1. Tricia Jones
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Editor information

Hermann Maurer

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 1989 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg

About this paper

Cite this paper

Jones, T. (1989). Incidental learning during information retrieval : A hypertext experiment. In: Maurer, H. (eds) Computer Assisted Learning. ICCAL 1989. Lecture Notes in Computer Science, vol 360. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/3-540-51142-3_63

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/3-540-51142-3_63

  • Published:

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-540-51142-7

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-540-46163-0

  • eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation